Complete CoSIDA Release
INDIANAPOLIS - Five student-athletes from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference were named to the 2016-17 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II Men's and Women's Track & Field/Cross Country teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Cedarville's Olivia Esbenshade and Carsyn Koch each garnered first-team honors while the Malone's men tandem of Austin Cary and Scott Whitaker collected third-team accolades. Cedarville's Wyatt Hartman earned second-team honors on the men's side.
All four were selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team before entering the final stage of voting.
Esbenshade, a product of Marietta, Pa., carried a 3.82 GPA in nursing as a Dean's Honor List student prior to graduation in May. She was the 2016 G-MAC Cross Country Runner of the Year and the 2017 G-MAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Esbenshade achieved NCAA Division II All-America honors on the track with her third-place finish in the outdoor 1,500 meters and as part of the indoor distance medley relay squad that placed third.
Koch, who is from Washburn, Maine, maintains a 3.54 GPA as a Dean's List student in nursing. In cross country, she helped the Lady Jackets to their fifth straight G-MAC crown, a runner-up showing in the Midwest Region, and their first-ever appearance at the NCAA Championship where they placed 11th.
Koch defended her 800 meter national titles on the track both indoors and outdoors. She additionally picked up All-America recognition as a member of the indoor DMR team.
Cary, from Loudonville, Ohio, excelled in his first collegiate season of track & field competition. He claimed the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Title in the weight throw, helping the Pioneers secure the 2017 G-MAC Indoor Track & Field Championship. Cary's winning toss of 49' 7" established a new G-MAC Championship Meet record in the event. Cary, who recently graduated from Malone with an impressive 3.838 cumulative GPA as a Biology major, also had an outstanding senior season on the gridiron. As a defensive lineman, Cary earned G-MAC All-Conference honors after registering 47 tackles and a team-best five sacks.
Whitaker, from Pittsburgh, Pa., returned from injury this fall to help the Pioneer cross country team earn a runner-up finish at the G-MAC Championships and an 11th-place showing at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships. Individually, Whitaker placed 18th at the G-MAC Meet and 39th overall at the Midwest Regional. He graduated from Malone with a 3.865 cumulative GPA as a Communications major. Whitaker then recently earned an MBA from the institution's graduate program. In 2014, Whitaker helped the Pioneer cross country team earn a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championships. In the spring of 2014, he also qualified for Division II Outdoor Nationals in the 1500 meters.
The Academic All-American Teams, selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognize the nation's top student-athletes. Nominees for the award must be a starter or important reserve, possess at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average (on a 4.00 scale), and have achieved at least sophomore academic status.